Comments on species-habitat associations:Golden eagles are associated with mountainous regions, rocky cliffs and tall trees. Need high points in landscape for food surveillance and nesting sites *08,11*. Nests have been found in live oaks and other oaks, sycamores, pines, and redwoods *06,07*.

Comments on food habits: General: Consume a wide variety of mammals and birds *07*.Juvenile: Initially are fed by parents (up to 60 days old) so can be considered to have same food habits as adults *11*.Adult: Consume a wide variety of mammals and birds *07*.

Comments on environmental associations:General: Golden eagles are associated with mountainous regions, rocky cliffs and tall trees. Need high points on landscape for food surveillance and nesting sites *08,11*.Egg: Nests are built on rocky cliffs and tall trees, using sticks and branches for the base and vegetation from local trees and shrubs for a lining *06,07,11*.Feeding juvenile: Juveniles are fed in the nest until approximately 60 days old. Nests are located on cliffs and the upper branches of tall trees *11*.Resting juvenile: Juveniles remain in nest until fledged at 60-70 days. Nests are located on cliffs and the upper branches of tall trees *11*.Feeding adult: Adults utilize cliffs and tall trees near open areas for food surveillance. Prey is captured both on the ground and on the wing *07, 11*.Resting adult: Adults are associated with mountainous regions, rocky cliffs, and tall trees *07,08,11*.Breeding adult: Courtship is aerial with copulation occurring near the nest site. Nests are built on rocky cliffs and in the upper branches of tall trees *07,11*.

Reproduction: Breeding season - February-May in contiguous U.S. *07*. Incubation period - 35-45 days *11*. Clutch size - usually 2 *11*. Male and female age at sexual maturity - probably don't breed until 4 years old *11*. One reproductive period/year *11*.

Behavior: Territoriality - defend area around nest site; home range size - varies depending on habitat; in california averages 35 sq. mi. and in forested areas such as the northeastern U.S. may be as high as 200 sq. mi. *11*; Foraging strategy- use high places to survey surroundings and fly over home range seeking prey; capture prey both on land and on the wing *07,11*. Migration - there is southern migration by eagles with northern breeding grounds (above approximately latitude 55 n) from September-October; return north from March- April *11*. Nest site - build nests on rocky cliffs, mountain crags, and upper branches of tall trees *06,11*. Development of young - in about 80% of cases where 2 young hatch, the elder kills the younger; feathers appear at 21-25 days and by 45-50 days are fully feathered; are able to fly at about 65-70 days *09,11*. Parental care of young - incubation is usually by female; both parents feed young with female contributing more as young approach fledging stage *09,11*.

Limiting factors: Habitat destruction, poisoning, shooting, and trapping *10*; dieldrin poisoning causing eggshell thinning *09*; have not suffered as much from pesticide poisoning as some other raptors due to its heavy dependence on mammals for its diet *10*.